TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Amid record sales for 2024, electronics manufacturer Inventec is weighing relocating factories to locations in the US including Texas if Trump imposes tariffs.
Shortly before celebrating the firm's 50th anniversary at Taipei Arena on Sunday, Inventec President Jack Tsai (蔡枝安) told reporters the company would prioritize shipments from Southeast Asian factories to the US to avoid tariffs imposed by Trump after he takes office, per CNA. Tsai said that since Trump's tariff policies are difficult to predict, the company is taking a wait-and-see approach.
Tsai said Inventec already has a factory in Mexico that produces servers, laptops, automotive electronics, and other products. He explained that the Mexican factory is close to the US, so if Inventec wants to set up a factory in the US, the production line can be moved there quickly.
Tsai revealed the company has already surveyed several locations in the US, with Texas being one of the potential sites for a new plant. The reasons include its proximity to Mexico and relatively stable power supply.
He said setting up new power infrastructure for a factory would take at least six months, but having an existing power supply would make the process much easier.
Tsai emphasized that Inventec has production bases in Taiwan, Mexico, the Czech Republic, China, and Southeast Asia, including Thailand, Malaysia, and Vietnam, which helps diversify risks. He said it is unlikely that Trump would impose tariffs on every location, so the company will wait to see his decisions after taking office before assessing the appropriate response measures.
Inventec's consolidated sales in December were approximately NT$72.26 billion (US$2.18 billion), a new monthly record increase of 18.74%, and an annual rise of 66.01%. The full-year sales for 2024 rose by 25.55% and reached NT$646.29 billion, an all-time high.
Tsai pointed out that Inventec's overall performance in 2024 was strong, with revenue growth exceeding 25% and server growth surpassing 40%. Looking ahead to this year, due to numerous uncertainties, including the Trump factor and geopolitical issues, the company expects continued growth, but the extent is difficult to estimate and would likely not exceed 2024 levels.
